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Harmony Mine

Producer in Free State, South Africa with commodities Gold, Uranium, PGE, Platinum, Osmium, Iridium, Ruthenium, Rhodium, Silver, Sulfur-Pyrite
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Alteration
  8. Mineral occurrence model information
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Geologic structures
  12. Ore body information
  13. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Land status
  17. Ownership information
  18. Production statistics
  19. Reserves and resources
  20. Workings at the site
  21. Links to other databases
  22. Bibliographic references
  23. General comments
  24. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10079053
MRDS ID W027869
Record type Site
Current site name Harmony Mine
Related records 10134644

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 26.83482, -28.04654 (WGS84)
Elevation 1372
Relative position 10 KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST OF THE CITY OF WELKOM

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Free State(province)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
South Africa Free State

Comments on the location information

  • AS HARMONY CURRENTLY EXISTS, IT IS AMALGAMATION OF THREE CONTIGUOUS MINES: HARMONY GOLD MINING COMPANY LIMITED, MERRIESPRUIT (ORANGE FREE STATE) GOLD MINING COMPANY LIMITED AND VIRGINIA ORANGE FREE STATE GOLD MINING COMPANY LIMITED. GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR THE MERGER WAS GRANTED IN SEPTEMBER 1974. (SEE, ALSO, PRODUCTION COMMENTS)

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Uranium Primary
PGE Critical Secondary
Platinum Critical Secondary
Osmium Secondary
Iridium Critical Secondary
Ruthenium Critical Secondary
Rhodium Critical Secondary
Silver Secondary
Sulfur-Pyrite Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • CONSIDERED TO BE AN IMPORTANT URANIUM PRODUCER. WITH LOW GOLD VALUES AND RISING URANIUM PRICES, THIS MINE IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A URANIUM PRODUCER (AS THE MAJOR COMMODITY OF SIGNIFICANCE) WITHIN A FEW YEARS. PYRITE (FOR SULFURIC ACID) IS NOT CURRENTLY RECOVERED. SMALL QUANTITIES PT AND AG RECOVERED BUT UNIMPORTANT IN SOUTH AFRICA TERMS. PT IS AN IMPURITY IN GOLD AND IS RECOVERED AT THE RAND REFINERY AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE PURIFICATION PROCESS.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Gold Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) None

Analytical data

Result COMPOSITION OF PLATINOIDS: IR = 33.4%, OS = 40.4%, RU = 14.2%, PT = 10.8%, RH = 1.2%

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 193
USGS model code 29a
Deposit model name Quartz pebble conglomerate Au-U (BC name is Paleoplacer U-Au-PGE-Sn-Ti

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
    Rock unit name Ventersdorp System-Lava
    Rock description Ventersdorp System-Lava
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
    Rock unit name Upper Elsburg Conglomerates And Quartzites;Karroo System Conglomerates And Shales
    Rock description Upper Elsburg Conglomerates And Quartzites;Karroo System Conglomerates And Shales
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Conglomerate

Nearby scientific data

(1) 26.83482, -28.04654
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Unique Continuity Of Gold-Bearing Horizons Over Extended Area Though Well Marked By Faulting, Folding And (Locally) Erosion And Redeposition Of Overlying Sediments.
Type of structure Local
Structure description Gentle Dip Regionally, With Folds And Faults Locally. Overlying Lavas, Quartzites And Conglomerates Are Massive.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Strike N - S
    Dip 10 DEG. W.
    Thickness 1.3M
    Depth to bottom 2100M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Gentle Uplift Of Continental Mass; Erosion; Peneplanation; Folding; Faulting; Volcanicity; Dike Injection And Build-Up Of Younger Sediments.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Year of first production 1954

Mining district

District name Orange Free State Area Of The Witwatersrand Goldfields

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Corner House Investment Co. Ltd. (Parent Co.)
  • Type Owner
    Owner Rand Mines Ltd. (Barlow Rand Ltd.) (Major Investment; Pct Not Known)
  • Type Owner
    Owner Charter Consolidated Ltd.
    Interest 10.5
  • Type Owner
    Owner Orange Free State Investment Trust Ltd.
    Interest 10
  • Type Owner
    Owner Westwits Investment Ltd.
    Interest 10
  • Type Owner
    Owner Free State Development And Investment Corp., Ltd. (Minor Investment; Pct Not Known)
  • Type Operator
    Owner Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd.

Production statistics

  • Year 1977
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.161 Toz Au /Met Ton Of Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.142 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.106 Kg U3o8/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 106g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.134 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.085 Kg U3o8/Met Ton Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 85g/mt
  • Year 1981
    Material ORE U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.083 Kg U308/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 83g/mt
  • Year 1981
    Material U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.132 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1982
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.126 Toz Au/Met Ton Au Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1983
    Material U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.087 Kg U3o8/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 87g/mt
  • Year 1984
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.069 Kg. U308/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 69g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.183 Toz Au And 0.089 Kg U308/Met Ton Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 89g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.183 To2 Au And 0.089 Kg U308/Met Ton Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 89g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • 1975 - 1977 PRODUCTION INCLUDES OUTPUT FROM MERRIESPRUIT AND VIRGINIA MINES (WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES OF HARMONY SINCE SEPTEMBER 1974 ). MERRIESPRUIT PRODUCED ONE YEAR ONLY AS INDEPENDENT ( 1956 OUTPUT: 518000 TONS OF ORE AT 0.260 /TR. OZ AU/MET. TON AND 134937 TR. OZ. AU PRODUCED; U3O8 OUTPUT; AVE. GR. ORE. 0.028 KG/MET. TON AND 14 MET. TONS U3O8 PRODUCED ). VIRGINIA OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY DURING 1954 - 1972 (CUMULATIVE OUTPUT: 26522000 TONS ORE AT 0.262 TR. OZ. AU/MET. TON OF ORE MILLED AND 6959449 TR. OZ AU PRODUCED: U3O8 OUTPUT: 22066000 MET. TONS ORE TREATED AT 0.239 KG/TON AND 5280 MET. TONS U3O8 PRODUCED). ; PRODUCTION CAPACITY HAS BEEN IMPROVED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW NO. 4 SHAFT.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Total resources 30257000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 5.691 g/mt Gold Major 1986
    Uranium U3O8 8.9e-05 wt-pct Uranium Major 1986

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1986 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1985 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 2100M

Comments on the workings information

  • MODIFICATIONS IN MINING METHODS FROM LABOR-INTENSIVE "SCATTER" MINING TO LONGWALL TECHNIQUES ARE DESIGNED TO LOWER COSTS AND MEET EXPANDED MILLING REQUIREMENTS.

Comments on development

  • EXPAN$: 20.0 ( 1975 - 1976 ) ; MILL.CAP: 7.1 MIL. MET. T/YR. ; ECON.YEAR: 1977 ; ECON.COM: A LOW GRADE GOLD PRODUCER WITH GROWTH POTENTIAL IN URANIUM. OPERATING COSTS (BASED ON GOLD RECOVERIES ONLY) ARE HIGH ($ 122.04 /TROY OUNCE OF GOLD RECOVERED, 1977 ). THE MINE EXPLOITS TWO ORE HORIZONS: THE BASAL REEF AND THE LEADER REEF. EST. MINE LIFE: 15 YEARS.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF SOUTH-CENTRAL AFRICA; PELLETIER, R.A.; 1964

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7; 1976

  • Deposit

    BARLOW RAND LIMITED ANNUAL REPORTS; 1974 - 1977

  • Deposit

    MERTIE, 1969, ECONOMIC GEOLOGY OF THE PLATINUM METALS: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 630, P. 45-48.

  • Deposit

    COUSINS, 1973, PLATINOIDS IN THE WITWATERSRAND SYSTEM: JOURNAL SOUTH AFRICA INST. MINING AND METALL., V. 73, NO. 6, P. 3-5.

  • Deposit

    WAGNER, 1929, PLATINUM DEPOSITS AND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA: STRUIK (PTY) LTD, CAPETOWN, 1973, P. 32-40.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 1977, V. 288.

  • Deposit

    IVOR JONES, ROY & COMPANY, INC., SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD SHARES: JOHANNESBURG, IVOR JONES, ROY & COMPANY, INC.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 1975, QUARTERLY REVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICAN SHARES: MINING JOURNAL, V. 19, NO. 1, MAY 1975.

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1985 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1981 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING - 1982 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1983 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA. JANUARY - DECEMBER 1979 ; ANALYSES OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1980 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA. JANUARY - DECEMBER 1978

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO STOPING WIDTH OF EACH OF THE TWO HORIZONS MINED (BASAL REEF AND LEADER REEF). DEPTH TO BOTTOM ESTIMATED. DIP REFERS TO BASAL REEF. OVERLYING LEADER REEF 0 - 5 DEGREES ONLY AND OVERLAPS THE BASAL REEF IN UPDIP, EASTERN, SECTION OF THE MINE.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028697 ; W028741 ; W030764 ; W032330 ; W032923 ; W033092 ; W033776 ; W044641 ; W055279
Deposit AU/PT RECOVERY = 6020:1. THIS RECORD INCLUDES DATA FROM DUPLICATE RECORD M046298 WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM THE DATABASE.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-MAR-1978 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1987 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-APR-1980 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1981 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-AUG-1982 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-1984 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1983 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-1985 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-MAY-1986 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-1987 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

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